Yesterday afternoon in Central Park I was crossing the North Meadow with birding friend Tom Fiore when we saw a police helicopter coming down very low. We were approaching the Reservoir, and Tom wondered, half jokingly, whether someone might have fallen in. Sure enough, today’s Post has the story of two young women from Canada who decided to take an unauthorized swim. The new fence was installed over the winter. It’s modeled after the original design, which was replaced years ago by a high cyclone fence. The new/old barrier offers much better views of the skyline, not to mention the birds on the water. I sometimes find the “improvements” in the Park to be dubious, but this one is much appreciated. One hopes they won’t add razor wire after this, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see some “no swimming under penalty of law” signs go up.

Speaking of the Reservoir, it was the site of an exciting birding moment on Sunday, when I discovered a Tundra Swan, a great rarity for the Park. You can read my report by scrolling down on this page. The birding was terrific over the weekend, but on Monday more birds seemed to have moved on than had come in. I’d have done better to take the day off; three days in a row is enough to fry me, and it’s not even May yet, when migration reaches its height. Regardless, these have been beautiful days. The warm weather has got the flowers blooming and the leaf buds bursting. It really looks like Spring. Those who complain of a too-swift transition from winter to summer would be well advised to get out there now.

MoveOn:
"Celebrity bake sale with Al Franken, Moby, Janeane Garofalo, Sonic Youth, David Cross, Janeane Garofalo, the cast of "Embedded," actress Illeana Douglas, and many other special guests. Eli, Laura, and Noah from the MoveOn team will be there as well.
Teany
90 Rivington St. (Just west of Ludlow.)
Saturday, April 17th, from 12pm to 3pm"- selma 4-16-2004 7:08 pm [link] [4 comments]

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I didn't watch Bush tonight, but have been reading blogger's accounts. Apparently he got a softball question about whether he could ever admit a mistake and I guess he said he could (haven't seen a transcript yet). I don't believe it--it's something in his nature that won't let him, like that time he froze because he couldn't correctly say the words of the adage that ends with "Shame on me." And here's Calpundit on his performance tonight (someone must have asked him the same question again, a trickier way):

9:25 — "What's the biggest mistake you made after 9/11?" Bush just froze. He couldn't answer for literally 30 seconds. "I can't come up with something under the pressure of the press conference."

Bush said he had spoken twice in the past few days with Gen. John Abizaid, the overall commanded [sic] of the Iraq war, and that Abizaid "knows full well when he speaks to me, if he needs additional manpower, he can ask for it."

The cross-community demonstration of support for Fallujah had been organized by Baghdad clerics both Sunni and Shiite amid reports that the death toll in the town had reached 105 since late Tuesday.

To put it very mildly, I've had a dim view of this whole affair since before the beginning. But even my tin foil capped head never imagined anything bring together the Shia and Sunnis. Way to go Georgie! Mission accomplished!- jim 4-08-2004 11:08 pm [link] [13 comments]

Has George Bush ever been asked, on the record, if it is his personal opinion that we are in (what fundamentalist Christians describe as) the end times?- jim 4-06-2004 12:05 am [link] [add a comment]

Just got the following in an email from an author I'm working with: "In terms of the other articles - I have some minor connections to unput on some of them" ...I'm thinking we should maybe let someone else input the minor corrections...- sally mckay 4-05-2004 6:33 pm [link] [1 comment]

Why does Bush need to appear in front of the commission with his minder?

WASHINGTON - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says it's baffling and embarrassing that President Bush (news - web sites) is appearing before the Sept. 11 commission with Vice President Dick Cheney at his side instead of by himself.

"I think it speaks to the lack of confidence that the administration has in the president going forth alone, period," Pelosi, D-Calif., said Friday. "It's embarrassing to the president of the United States that they won't let him go in without holding the hand of the vice president of the United States."

"I think it reinforces the idea that the president cannot go it alone," she said. "The president should stand tall, walk in the room himself and answer the questions."